Political Notebook

GOP and DFL leaders make stop in Rochester today

Republican and DFL legislators are flying around the state today offering their take on the end of the legislative session.

GOPers will be landing at noon at the Rochester International Airport. Among those making the trip are Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. Joining him will be Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem, House Minority Leader Kurt Zellers, Sen. Amy Koch and Rep. Matt Dean.

Senate DFL leaders will be arriving at the same location at 3:40 p.m. Making the trip are Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller and Sen. Linda Berglin, who chairs the Senate Health and Human Services Budget Division.

DFL leaders say it's time for Pawlenty to 'provide leadership'

DFL legislative leaders responded to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto of a budget bill with a letter of their own. In it, Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller and House Majority Leader Margaret Anderson Kelliher say they had hoped that governor would "put aside your rigid ideology and political concerns and address the state's pressing fiscal issues."

Pawlenty vetoed the budget proposal opposing a provision that would have raised income tax rates on wealthier Minnesotans.

In the DFL leaders letter, they go on to ask the governor to "provide leadership" and put forward his own plan to solve the state's $3 billion budget deficit entirely with cuts. Lawmakers say they are not willing to support delaying $1.7 billion in payments to K-12 schools unless there is a way to pay it back.

Click here to Download DFL veto response